Portable lantern



y 1961 G. P. HENSON 2,985,751

PORTABLE LANTERN Filed June 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7? I: z31 GORDON P. HENSON ATTORNEYS y 9 G. P. HENSON 2,985,751

PORTABLE LANTERN v Filed June 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 as 33 |2 5sINVENTOR.

GORDON P HENSON BY MW Max/75M ATTORNEYS PORTABLE LANTERN Gordon P.Henson, Prairieville Township, Barry County, Mich. (RR. 1, Doster,Mich.)

Filed June 16, 1958, Ser. No. 742,387

3 Claims. (Cl. 240-11) This invention relates in general to a portablelantern and, more particularly, to a type thereof connectible to asource of a combustible fluid for the purpose of providing an intenselight.

Portable non-electric lamps, or lanterns as they are often called, havebeen used for many years and are still widely used where a source ofelectrical energy is not conveniently available. However, existinglanterns have been notoriously lacking in one of two respects. That is,present lanterns either have not been completely portable or, whenportable, have been incapable of providing an intense and concentratedillumination. A brilliant, non electric illumination is often needed inmany situations, such as for a beacon, a jack light, or simply asillumination in night construction work or night rescue work.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention has been the provisionof a completely portable lantern capable of producing a concentrated andintense illumination by means of burning a combustible fluid.

A further object of this invention has been the provision of a lantern,as aforesaid, which will operate very inexpensively, which is verysimple and safe to operate, which is relatively easy to fabricate, whichincorporates means for controlling the amount of illumination and whichis adapted for a very wide range of uses.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a lantern, asaforesaid, which, where desired, can be adapted for quick and easyconversion into a cook stove.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent topersons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the followingspecification and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lantern construction embodying theinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the line H-IIof Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-411 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line I-V-IV ,of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a. fragment of Figure 2 showing a modified construction insaid lantern.

and 2. The terms front, rear and derivatives thereof will have referenceto the right and left sides, respectively, of the structure as appearingin Figure 2. The terms innerj outer and derivatives thereof will haverefer- 'ence tothe geometric center of said lantern and parts thereof.

General description The objects and purposes of the invention, includingUnited States Patent 0 ice 2,985,75l Patented May 23, 1961 those setforth above, have been met by providing a portable lantern having amanifold connected through a ing valve or control to a source ofcombustible gas. One or more outlet tubes are connected to andcommunicate with said manifold and each of said tubes is provided with amantle at its free end. The outlet tubes and mantles are protected byguard means mounted upon the manifold. A heat barrier, and a supportinghandle are also rigidly aflixed with respect to said manifold.

The particular lantern'disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 has a plurality ofillumination units, each of which includes two mantle supporting outletpipes which are connected to the manifold and surrounded by a protectivestructure. However, it will be recognized that the number of outletpipes and mantles may be varied considerably within the scope of theinvention.

Detailed description The lantern 10 (Figures 1 and 2), herein selectedto illustrate the invention, is comprised of a manifold 11 upon which aplurality of illumination units 12 are supported and with which saidunits are connected. A reflector 13 and handle 14 are rigidly secured tothe manifold 11 which includes an elongated central tube 22. One end ofsaid tube 22 is closed and the other end is connected through a mixturecontrol 17 and a conduit 18 to a source 19 of combustible fluid, such aspropane. Two pairs of substantially parallel tubes 23, 24, 25 and 26(Figure 6) extend from opposite sides of the central tube 22 andcommunicate therewith. At least one outlet tube 28 is secured to andcommunicates with each of the lateral tubes, said outlet tubespreferably extendingin a direction substantially perpendicular to theplane defined by the lengthwise axes of said lateral tubes 23, 24, 25and 26. In this embodiment, there are two identical outlet tubes 28 and28a (Figure 3) secured to each of said lateral tubes.

As shown in Figure 4 with respect to the outlet tube 28 on the lateraltube 24, a screen 29 is held against the lower end of each outlet tube28 and 28a by a flanged collar 32, which is secured upon the lower endof the outlet tube by any convenient means, such as braiing or a pressfit. Each collar 32 has an annular groove 34 in its periphery. A mantle33 is supported upon and suspended from the collar 32 by means of anon-flammable 'erably are, identical with those described and disclosedwith respect to the lateral tube 24 shown in Figures 3 and 4. a

The outlet tubes 28 and 28a and their corresponding mantles 33 and 33aprovide the light source for each illumination unit 12 (Figures 2 and3), which also includes a glass chimney 38 and a chimney supporting cage39. The cage 39-is comprised of a pair of coaxial, spaced rings 42 and43 which are connected to the opposite ends of a plurality of verticalrods by means such as welding. A pair of horizontal rods 46 and 47extend diametrically across the lower ring 43 transversely of each otherand are secured at their opposite ends to the lower ring for supportinga chimney 38 disposed within the upper ring. 42.

The chimney cages 39 (Figures 1, 2 and'6) are pref-' erably secured bywelding along the adjacent edges. of

under said central tube. A pair of internally threaded" with atmosphere.openings 73 is rotatably supported upon the rearward 3 sleeves 52 and 53are secured to the lower side of the central tube 22 and extenddownwardly therefrom. The support plates 48 and 49 are provided withaligned openings 54 and 55, respectively, which are also axially alignedwith the openings in the sleeves 52 and 53. A

pair of studs 57 and 58, which are threaded at both ends,

:are threadedly received into the sleeves 52 and 53 and slidably extendthrough the openings 54 and 55 in said plates. Wing nuts 61 and 62 arethreadedly received upon the lower ends of the studs 57 and 58 below thesupport plate 49 for the purpose of supporting said plates 48 and 49,hence the chimney cages 39 secured thereto, with respect to the manifold11. Thus, by removing the -wing nuts 61 and 62 from the studs 57 and 58,all of the chimneys and chimney cages can be simultaneously dropped awayfrom the manifold 11.

The rearward and open end of the central tube 22 (Figure 2) is securedto one end of a support bar 63 by means, such as welding, so that saidbar 63 extends sub- '22 by means such as Welding or threaded engagement.

The outlet pipe 68 is of less internal diameter than both the chamber 67and the control tube 22, thereby creating a restriction or venturi 69.

The rearward end of the mixture control 17 (Figure 1) has one or moreopenings 71 which can communicate A control plate 72 having control endof the casing 66 for the purpose of adjusting the effective size of theair openings 71. An inlet pipe 74 is secured to the casing 66 andcommunicates with the mixing chamber 67. The inlet pipe 74 is providedwith a flow control valve 76 and is connected to the conduit 18 which isin turn connected to the source 19 of gas. In this embodiment, thesource 19 may be a portable container in which propane, for example, isstored under pressure and in the liquid condition. As the propane passesthe flow control valve, it expands and is gasified in a well-knownmanner.

The reflector 13 has a back sheet 77 with an opening "78 (Figure 2) inits upper end through which the outlet U-shaped and has a rear leg 86provided with an opening 87 near its free end through which the outletpipe 68 of the mixture control 17 is slidably received. The rear leg 86and the back sheet 77 of the reflector 13 are tightly clamped betweenthe casing 66 and the support bar 63, thereby supporting the reflector13 and handle 14 rigidly with respect to the manifold 11. A stud 88 isrigidly secured to the upper side of the central tube 22 by means, suchas welding, so that it extends upwardly therefrom through an appropriateopening in the top sheet 84. The front leg 91 of the handle 14 has afrontwardly extending flange 92 provided with an opening through whichthe stud 88 is received. A pair of nuts 93 and 94 are threadedlyreceived upon the upper end of the stud 88 adjacent to the upper side ofthe flange 92 and the lower side of the top sheet 84, respectively, forrigidly holding these two elements with respect to the manifold 11.

Operation The lantern 10 is prepared for operation by opening the flowvalve 76 and adjusting the control plate 72 so that the air openings 71are reasonably unobstructed. Ignition means, such as a match, is heldadjacent to the mantles 33 and 33a in each illumination unit 12 toignite the gas escaping from the manifold 11 through the outlet tubes 28and 28a. The control plate 72 is then adjusted until said mantles arecaused to incandesce with the desired quality of whiteness. The quantityof illumination can be easily controlled by adjusting the flow valve 76and the cover plate 72.

It has been found that the lantern 10 performs most effectively wherethe internal diameters of the lateral tubes 23, 24, 25 and 26 aresubstantially identical, are smaller than the internal diameter of thecentral, tube 22, and are larger than the internal diameters of theoutlet tubes 28 and 28a. The quality of the illumination prw duced bythe lantern 10, having a plurality of outlet pipes, often variesmaterially as a result of substantial changes in the atmosphericconditions. However, this problem is easily overcome by adjusting thesetting of the control plate 72. The fiow valve 76 is preferablyselected so that, when it is substantially wide open, that amount of gasflows into the manifold 11 which is required to provide an illuminationof maximum allow able intensity, within the limitations of the materialsused, such as the mantles 33 and 33a. When it becomes desirable to turnoff the lantern 10, this can be easily and quickly accomplished simplyby closing the flow valve 76.

Alternate construction As shown in Figure 5, the manifold 97 may becomprised of a single central tube 98 having a single outlet tube 99secured thereto and communicating therewith. A mantle 101, a chimney 102and a chimney cage 103 are provided with the outlet tube 99 to form anillumination unit 104 in substantially the same manner as set forthabove with respect to the illumination unit 12.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the modified lantern 10a has an alternatereflector 108 in which the top sheet 109 is separate from the back sheet110. The rear leg 112 of the handle 111 is comprised of two parts, thelower part 113 being secured with respect to the manifold 11a insubstantially the same manner as the rear leg 86 (Figure 2) is securedto the manifold 11. The upper part 114 (Figure 7) of the leg 112 isconnected by the hinge 117 to the lower part 113 of said rear leg 112 sothat the major part of said handle 111 can pivot between its solid lineposition and its broken line position 111a.

The front leg 119 of the handle 111 is secured by means, such as the nut120 and bolt 121, to the top sheet 109 whereby said sheet 109 can beraised by said handle 111 into the broken line position 109a. The lowerpart 113 of the rear leg 112 extends upwardly to a point where its upperedge is frictionally engaged by the, rearward portion 118 of the topsheet 109 as it moves into said broken line position, thereby tending tohold the top sheet 109 in the raised position.

Means such as the belt 124 and nut 125, may be used for the purpose ofholding the upper part 114 of the rear leg 112 firmly with respect tothe lower part 113 of said leg 1 12 when the top sheet 109 is in itslowered or reflecting position and pivotal movement is not desired.

A rectangular grill 126 (Figures 6 and 7) is secured by means, such aswelding, upon the upper surface of the manifold 11a so that it isparallel with the plane defined by the axes of the lateral tubes 23, 24,25 and 26. Thus, when the top sheet 109 is pivoted rearwardly away fromthe manifold 11a into the broken line position 109a of Figure 7, afrying pan, coffee pot or the like (not shown) may be placed upon thegrill 126 for the purpose of heating same.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed above in detail for illustrative purposes, it will beunderstood that variations or modifications of such disclosure, whichlie within the scope of the appended claims, are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable lantern removably connectible to a source ofcombustible gas, the combination comprising:

a manifold having a venturi near one end thereof; housing means securedto said one end of said manifold and defining a mixing chambercommunicating with said manifold through said venturi, said mixingchamber having an adjustable opening to atmosphere; conduit means forconnecting said mixing chamber to the source of combustible gas; aplurality of outlet tubes connected to and communicating with one sideof said manifold; a plurality of mantles, one being associated with andconnected to the free end of each of said outlet tubes; rigid guardmeans including a plurality of chimney cages surrounding said mantlesand supported upon said manifold; a plurality of chimneys, one in eachcage, encircling said mantles; a substantially L-shaped reflectorrigidly securable with respect to said manifold, said reflectorincluding a first sheet at said one end of said manifold and a secondsheet perpendicularly disposed with respect to said first sheet andadjacent to the other side of said manifold, said second sheet overlyingsaid manifold and said cages; and handle means secured with respect tosaid first and second sheets; and fastening means releasably but rigidlysecuring said cages and said second sheet to said manifold.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second sheet is separable fromsaid first sheet, wherein said handle means includes a first portionrigidly secured with respect to said manifold and a second portionpivotally supported upon said first portion and rigidly secured withrespect to said second sheet, and means for selectively holding saidsecond portion rigid with respect to said first portion, whereby saidsecond sheet can be pivoted into and out of its position adjacent to theside of said manifold.

3. In a portable lantern removably connectible to a source ofcombustible gas, the combination comprising: a central pipe and aplurality of branch pipes connected to and communicating with saidcentral pipe, the central axes of said pipes lying substantially withina single plane and said pipes defining a manifold; a constriction insaid central pipe near one end thereof defining a venturi in saidmanifold; housing means secured to said one end of said manifold anddefining a mixing chamber communicating with said one end of saidmanifold through said venturi, said mixing chamber having an adjustableopening to atmosphere; conduit means connected to said mixing chamberand connectible to the source of combustible gas; a How control valve insaid conduit near to said mixing chamber; a plurality of outlet tubesconnected to and communicating with said pipes, said tubes being on oneside of said plane and extending substantially perpendicularlytherefrom; a plurality of mantles, one being connected to the free endof each outlet tube; guard structure including a pair of spaced supportelements located, respectively, above and below the free ends of saidtubes and a plurality of rod-form chimney cages secured to and extendingbetween said elements; fastening means releasably mounting said elementsupon said pipes, said mantles being Within said cages; a plurality ofsubstantially cylindrical chimneys, open at both ends one chimney beingdisposed within and supported by each cage and encircling at least oneof said mantles; an L-shaped reflector having first and second,substantially perpendicular fiat sheets, said first sheet being rigidlyheld with respect to said manifold and said mixing chamber at thejunction thereof and perpendicular to said plane, and said second sheetbeing substantially parallel with said plane and on the other sidethereof from said tubes, said second sheet overlying said pipes and theupper ends of said cages and said chimneys and means re'leasablysecuring said second sheet in such position; handle means havingportions rigidly secured with respect to said first and second sheets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS996,436 Verret June 27, 1911 1,032,791 Walker July 16, 1912 1,574,940Sexton Mar. 2, 1926 1,733,937 Brown et al Oct. 29, 1929 2,638,085 GuedonMay 12, 1953 2,841,694 Webster July I, 1958

